Pak has detained some suspects: NIA

Pakistan has detained a number of suspects in the Pathankot terror attack case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on Wednesday.

The NIA’s statement comes after its meeting with five members of the Pakistan joint investigation team (JIT), which visited the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Pathankot that was attacked by suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists on January 2 this year, killing seven security personnel.

“The Pakistan team has told us that they have arrested some people in connection with the Pathankot case. We have given them a list of our demands. We are in the process of handing over certain documents to them. The witnesses will be examined tomorrow,” NIA Director General Sharad Kumar said.

“The Pakistani team has shared details of their investigations,” Kumar said, adding that the details of the detentions cannot be shared at this stage as the investigation is going on.

“We are holding discussions with the Pakistan team on reciprocity basis. Reciprocity means whatever cooperation we are extending to them for prosecution they will also extend the same. Evidence collection and examination of witnesses will continue for one or two more days,” Kumar stated.

The NIA is also expected to seek access to Maulana Masood Azhar, his brother Rauf and some key players like Kashif Jaan, identified by Indian investigators as the main handlers of the slain terrorists.  

Sources say Kashif was in constant touch with Rauf before and during the attack and Rauf was passing on the information to Masood. Kashif’s location, while speaking to the terrorists, was mostly Bhawalpur in Punjab province  of Pakistan – the JeM headquarters. 

Other than the phone numbers of Rauf, brother of JeM chief Masood Azhar, the NIA has shared the numbers of the companies that had supplied packed food to the terrorists.